Judge Finds No Standing To Block Ill. Aid-In-Dying Law

By Celeste Bott

An Illinois federal judge on Thursday refused to block a new law from taking effect that allows patients with terminal illnesses to seek a doctor's assistance in ending their lives, ruling that a challenge brought by disability rights advocates relied on speculative fears rather than imminent legal harm.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

States Press Court To Block DOT's CDL Data Request

By Jared Foretek

A Virginia federal judge on Thursday questioned the Trump administration's claim that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's chief counsel wasn't speaking for the agency itself when she told a nationwide commercial driver database operator to either hand over millions of driver files or see its federal funding slashed.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Illinois, Nicor Gas Cut $140M Rate Reduction Deal

By Lauraann Wood

Nicor Gas customers will see less than half of the 14% rate increase Illinois' largest gas utility service had initially sought as part of a rate reduction settlement valued around $140 million, state Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced Wednesday.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

24 States Ink Deal With Feds In AmeriCorps Budget Cuts Case

By Rachel Riley

Two dozen states and the District of Columbia have reached a settlement with the Trump administration to stop the federal government from abruptly slashing funding for the national volunteer agency AmeriCorps in the future, the coalition of states announced Thursday.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Brief

Ill. Bond Trader Gets 16 Years For $30M Firm-Tanking Fraud

By Lauraann Wood

A former Illinois bond trader who was convicted of a $30 million fraud scheme that shuttered his Atlanta-based former employer has been sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison, according to case filings entered Thursday.

Motion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

1st Circ. Keeps USPS Ballot Mail Rule Blocked For Midterms

By Julie Manganis

The First Circuit on Thursday rejected a request from the U.S. Postal Service to lift a Massachusetts federal judge's order blocking new mail ballot requirements that the appellate court said would create "chaos and widespread disenfranchisement" just weeks before the November midterm elections.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

States Drop Suit Over HUD's Fair Housing Funding Changes

By Isaac Monterose

A group of 16 states and the District of Columbia have agreed to drop their California federal court lawsuit accusing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development of wrongfully seeking to cut off funding for fair housing enforcement targeting discrimination based on characteristics such as sexual orientation.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

7th Circ. Won't Revive Mail Carrier's Race Bias Suit

By Gina Kim

The Seventh Circuit declined to revive a U.S. Postal Service carrier's discrimination suit stemming from an altercation with his supervisor, who called police to escort him off the premises, ruling Thursday no reasonable jury could say the treatment, "however disrespectful or ill-advised," had anything to do with the carrier's race.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

State AI Safety Laws Raise New Liabilities For Healthcare Cos.

Healthcare and life science companies using third-party artificial intelligence tools should pay particular attention to the changing state-level legal landscape, where the rollout of multiple AI safety laws is introducing both new compliance obligations and potential consumer protection liabilities, say attorneys at McDermott.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Series

Juggling And Unicycling Make Me A Better Lawyer

Because I juggle (sometimes with fire) and ride the unicycle, friends and family used to joke that I should join the circus, but I pursued the practice of law instead and learned that my hobbies benefit my profession in several important ways, says Morgan Eddy at Smith Currie.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

ABA Study Shows 20% Of Attys Under Severe Mental Distress

By Tracey Read

About one-fifth of attorneys across the country meet moderate-to-extremely severe symptom thresholds for depression, anxiety and stress, according to the largest-ever study of mental health and well-being in the legal profession.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Mass. Judge Sanctioned Over Handling Of ICE At Courthouse

By Julie Manganis

Massachusetts' highest court on Thursday sanctioned a judge over her handling of a case involving a defendant wanted by immigration agents in 2018, an incident that led to federal charges that were dismissed after the judge agreed to a disciplinary process.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Ed Martin Reprimanded Over Unauthorized FBI Contacts

By Courtney Bublé

Last summer, when Ed Martin was still head of the weaponization working group at the U.S. Department of Justice, he was reprimanded after his team communicated with the FBI without authorization, according to recently released emails.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

2 At DOJ Sued Over Conn. Immigration Court Record Access

By Christine DeRosa

The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Connecticut has filed suit in Connecticut federal court challenging the Hartford Immigration Court's refusal to provide access to immigration court records.

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

JPMorgan Aided Ex-Atty Kossoff's $18.5M Theft, Trustee Says

By Hailey Konnath

The Chapter 7 trustee representing bankrupt firm Kossoff PLLC on Wednesday sued JPMorgan Chase Bank NA, claiming the bank helped the firm's principal steal at least $18.5 million from clients, and it "should be made to account."

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Analysis

Executive Privilege Questions Cloud Congressional Probe Prep

By Phillip Bantz

As corporate leaders brace for the possibility of Democrats retaking control of Congress and launching aggressive investigations into the Trump administration's dealings with a vast array of companies, attorneys say a U.S. Justice Department opinion on executive privilege could complicate the probes.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

DOJ Urges High Court To Revisit 9th Circ.'s Bar Of Nev. US Atty

By Madison Arnold

The Justice Department has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit a recent Ninth Circuit ruling disqualifying the Trump administration's top federal prosecutor in Nevada, calling it a decision that imposes "ongoing confusion" in the executive branch.

Petition attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Jay-Z Can't Undo Buzbee's Win In Rapper's Defamation Suit

By Y. Peter Kang

A California state appeals court has refused to revive claims that Texas attorney Tony Buzbee defamed and extorted music superstar Jay-Z by roping him into a sexual abuse suit against Sean "Diddy" Combs, saying the case was properly thrown out under California's free speech statute.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »